Northwest Kansas digs out from major winter storm

HAYS — Residents of northwest Kansas are digging out from a winter storm that dumped more than a foot of snow on some areas.

National Weather Service meteorologist Jessica Hill says 4 to 15 inches of snow fell across the region before the storm moved out Tuesday afternoon. She says wind gusts of up to 50 mph blew the snow into large drifts in some areas.

The snow left many roads in the region packed with snow and icy. Part of Interstate 70 was closed for several hours Tuesday before reopening in the evening. But the Kansas Department of Transportation reports that several roads remained closed Wednesday, including stretches of U.S. 36 and U.S. 283.

Several school districts also remained closed Wednesday, including Goodland and Hoxie.